LAUSR

Abstract We examined the effectiveness of a combined inoculant of hetero-fermentative Lactobacillus buchneri LB1819 and homo-fermentative Lactococcus lactis O224 on quality of maize silage at two different densities. The four treatments were: CTR-LD, untreated at low-density (132 ± 6 kg DM/m3); CTR-HD, untreated at high density (186 ± 6 kg DM/m3); TRT-LD, inoculated at low density; and TRT-HD, inoculated at high density. The 5 replicates for each treatment were ensiled in 20-L plastic jars and the inoculant was applied at a rate of 250,000 CFU/g ensiled forage. The fermentation profile, aerobic stability, and DM losses were measured after 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 days of ensiling, and the chemical composition, microbial counts, and concentrations of mycotoxins were assessed in the 32 day samples. Data measured once during experiment were analyzed according to a completely randomized design (CRD), with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments (i.e., inoculation, density, and their interaction). Data measured at different time points were analyzed according to a CRD, with a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial arrangement of treatments (i.e., inoculation, density, length of ensiling, and their first or second order interactions). The lactic acid concentration increased (P